Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

CAMHS is a specialist community NHS service for children and young people who have moderate to severe emotional and mental health problems (and their families). Services for children and young people's emotional and mental health are often described using a tiered (PDF 41 KB) model, to reflect an increasing level of need. 

• Tier 1 refers to universal services provided by, for example, teachers, youth workers, school nurses. 
• Specialist CAMHS in Worcestershire operates at Tiers 2 and Tier 3. 
• Tier 4 CAMHS is hospital-based mental health care, usually provided on an in-patient basis. 

An assessment of needs and a service review for children and young people with emotional and mental health difficulties, which was conducted during the summer of 2011, made a number of recommendations for change in order to provide more accessible and effective services.

 Worcestershire County Council joint commissioners, together with the providers of CAMHS, Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, and other partners have been working to develop a new service model which follows these recommendations. 

A stakeholder consultation was carried out during the spring of 2012 and the findings from this have been incorporated into the final service model. 

The new CAMHS service model is now being implemented in stages with the first stage being the launch this summer of a single point of access for referrals to CAMHS.

Timetable for the CAMHS changes:

Learning Disability (LD) Pathway CAMHS

A New Pathway and County-wide CAMHS service for children with learning disabilities and additional mental health needs will be implemented by December 2012. Find out more on New Pathway and County-wide CAMHS

Neuro-Developmental Pathway (ADHD and ASD including TIC Disorders)

A new county-wide Neuro-Developmental Pathway for children and young people who need assessment and support for Autism Spectrum conditions, ADHD and/or related conditions will be fully operational during spring 2013, building on the current provision. Find out more on Neuro-Developmental Pathway. 

Single Point Access (SPA)

A Single Point of Access (SPA) to CAMHS through which any professional can make a referral.  This will be implemented during the summer 2012. Find out more on Single Point of Access.

Tier 2 CAMHS

A re-modelled Tier 2 CAMHS.  This will provide a dedicated team of Primary Mental Health Workers who will work with professionals in universal services, offering training, advice and consultation enabling professionals to manage cases of mild to moderate emotional and mental health difficulties themselves and thus providing earlier intervention.  The Tier 2 service will be fully operational during spring 2013, but some elements are in place now and coverage will increase over time.  Find out more on Tier 2 CAMHS.

Tier 3 Plus CAMHS

A new Tier 3 Plus CAMHS service.  By working closely with the SPA this service will provide urgent assessment and care for children and young people with severe mental health problems.  The service will be implemented during the autumn 2012. Find out more on Tier 3 Plus CAMHS

Contacts

If you have any specific questions about CAMHS please email Fran Tummey, CAMHS Clinical Manager, fran.tummey@hacw.nhs.uk

If you have any general comments or queries about the information on these webpages please email Hannah Clarke hclarke1@worcestershire.gov.uk

This page was last reviewed 14 May 2013 at 11:36.
The page is next due for review 10 November 2014.